Following the fallout from last week's painfully uncomfortable Today show interview in which Kate Gosselin tried (unsuccessfully) to coax a single word out of her sullen twin daughters Mady and Cara, the reality-TV mom tried again yesterday with an arranged sitdown on The View.

This time the 13-year-old twins actually spoke, but the effect was more chilling than awkward.

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As reported by Gawker, the interview was largely congenial. The girls responded to host Sherri Shepherd's softball questions with minimal attitude. One twin likes Justin Bieber, the other likes One Direction, that sort of thing.

Mercifully, Kate remained silent for most of the interview, except when Shepherd queried the twins about their household chore responsibilities. When the girls didn't answer quickly enough, Kate jumped in with the semi-shrill comment, "After dinner, go for it!" while pointing at Cara.

But The View interview became more interesting once the twins lapsed into their now-familiar modality of using silence as an expression, which only becomes more pronounced by the TV camera. These kids are already mature beyond their years.

Watch what happens when Shepherd gently asks the twins about their parents' divorce (Kate and Jon Gosselin split in 2009). Mady and Cara look at each other, take a beat and then laugh at the question. Question asked, answer given.

The importance of silence to the twins became even more evident a moment later when Shepherd asked them about their siblings. A slightly anxious Kate interrupts by telling Mady that this was the "question she's been waiting to answer her whole life."

Mady's response was a cold glare at her mother and a terse, "You ruined my dramatic silence."

Unlike their appearance on Today, the Gosselin twins were more measured in their replies. Among other revelations, viewers learned that Mady has ambitions to become a singer and that both girls would be willing to do another reality show.

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But even then, there were moments when the girls were almost preternaturally focused, which was a little scary. At one point, Mady actually said to her sister, "Cara, would you like me to talk or would you like to talk? Okay, I'll talk. I'm the more talkative one."

And when the questioning veered toward any potential danger zone, the twins did what they do best: Say nothing.

Toward the end of The View interview, host Barbara Walters asked Mady and Cara if they see their father, Jon Gosselin. Mady said, "Um…" and her sister said nothing.

Even at the tender age of 13, the Gosselin twins know that silence speaks volumes.

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